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French consul for Southeast talks trade in Savannah

Savannah’s business and government leaders continued their efforts to highlight the city’s global market potential this week by showcasing the area to France’s consul general to the Southeast.

Denis Barbet, who assumed the Atlanta-based post this summer, represents France for Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.

He wrapped up a two-day visit to Savannah on Tuesday by touring the Georgia Ports Authority and sitting down for an economic overview with Trip Tollison, interim president and CEO at the Savannah Economic Development Authority; Bill Hubbard, president and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Brynn Grant, interim director of the SEDA-affiliated World Trade Center.

They touted the port serving as a distribution hub that covers a 26-state region that reaches 80 percent of the U.S. population. They reminded Barbet that the Southeast is the fastest-growing region of the U.S. and offered examples ranging from JCB to Mitsubishi of the area’s international partners. They showcased top employers, starting with Gulfstream, and mentioned the 400 site-ready acres available at the state-owned megasite along Interstates 16 and 95.

Barbet was polite and engaged but confirmed something the group already knew.

“Georgia has more work to do to make Georgia known in France and Europe,” he said.

Tollison agreed and said at least three trade missions are being planned.

“We haven’t been doing that in Savannah,” he said, “so we’re about to make a big push.”

Even before he left the SEDA meeting, the consul general began thinking of ways Savannah businesses, universities and its port could connect with European interests. He wondered whether the new Airbus plant being built in Mobile, Ala., had any shipping or aeronautical possibilities for Savannah. Airbus’ parent company is partly owned by the French government.

That’s the type of connectivity Savannah officials want.

“We want to be sure the consul general has a full appreciation of Savannah’s assets,” said MarRonde Lumpkin-Lotson, who coordinated the visit as the city’s director of economic development. “As he is introduced to key players, we’re hoping this will resonate in his mind and he will help us establish new business connections.”

Trade relations have grown steadily between the Port of Savannah and France, according to World Port Source. In 2010, France shipped more than $630 million in merchandise into Savannah. It exported more than $292 million out of Savannah. In both categories, it had roughly tripled its shipping volume between 2010 and 2003.